OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Buffalo, NY 14202

Buffalo: median income $56,528, home value $479,100, $288/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wichita, KS 67202 85%1,034$58,234$407,100$275 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · more renters
Omaha, NE 68102 83%881$64,111$389,400$329 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23219 81%377$57,507$380,700$361 cheaper homes ($98K less) · younger residents · more renters
Birmingham, AL 35203 80%776$47,434$334,000$274 cheaper homes ($145K less) · older homes
Portland, OR 97205 80%2,151$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55101 78%721$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($219K less) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23517 76%438$67,375$386,600$214 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02903 75%388$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Knoxville, TN 37902 71%549$50,161$687,500$579 pricier homes ($208K more) · smaller · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48226 71%215$64,860$324,500$492 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · more renters
Spokane, WA 99204 71%1,883$58,277$397,700$199 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Jacksonville, FL 32204 69%882$65,063$375,000$246 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45206 67%391$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 67%1,694$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85003 65%1,903$60,461$616,800$389 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Sacramento, CA 95814 65%2,227$58,284$633,200$355 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23510 64%439$73,524$385,700$246 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63108 64%663$55,147$372,200$213 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73102 64%1,119$59,338$436,500$181 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more renters · newer homes
Tucson, AZ 85701 64%1,892$51,794$492,100$338 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Portland, ME 04101 63%437$63,880$617,600$568 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55403 63%730$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63101 63%660$66,678$223,200$181 cheaper homes ($256K less) · older homes
Dallas, TX 75246 63%1,196$53,555$447,800$256 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Anchorage, AK 99501 62%3,086$70,891$379,100$265 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · more homeowners

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.